Where should I do a Beach Wedding on Maui?
Choosing the perfect beach for your Maui wedding is such an important step, and I would love to share some of my favorite locations based on over two decades of experience photographing romance here on Maui!
My first question to you is where are you staying? I ask this because Maui is a semi large island, & it’s better for you to stay close to where your wedding is, rather than driving more than an hour+ if you are staying on Maui’s west side & your wedding is on Maui south side or vice versa. Sometimes (not often) traffic can be a really big problem. It’s better to keep your hotel & the beach where you are getting married close by!
Next question; What are your priorties? Do you want to be close to your hotel & more convenient or are you willing to drive to have less people, less buildings in the background & more natural?
Many of the beautiful beaches we have here are located near major hotels & can be VERY BUSY at sunset, simply because the visitors at those hotel all want to experience sunset too! That of course makes then very convenient as you can walk to them, but also can lots of people at sunset on the beach because of their proximty to the hotel. If you are wanting a more intimate wedding, you are going to need to drive to some more remote locations.
Here a few things to keep in mind about having a wedding on a beach in Maui.
All beaches on Maui require a wedding permit. Most all beaches on Maui are state beaches & just require the “Wiki” Permit. A few beaches are county beaches and have their own rules.
Wedding permits allow the main wedding location, and a secondary backup. Beach permits allow a maximum of 25 people. State regulations strictly prohibit items like chairs (except for disabled guests), tables, arches, and decorative elements. Of course afterwards the beach needs to be cleaned up of any loose flowers/trash.
Also please know that a specific law prohibits professionals (e.g., professional photography) on Kaanapali Beach, so we would want to look at nearby alternatives if you are staying in that area. Some hotels allow pro photography on their grounds, & some have incredible spots for creating gorgeous imagery. It all depends on the specific hotel you are staying at and their rules for pro photographers on their property.
I have selected these specific beaches because of their beauty and their remoteness. Looking for something even more remote, or off the beaten path? Please ask as I know all the beaches & hidden spots & will gladly help you with all my insight & experience!
Here are a few of the most beautiful spots that I highly recommend for a beach ceremony on Maui’s West Side:
– Kapalua Bay Beach: This is truly one of the most stunning beaches on the island. It offers incredible scenery and is one of the absolute best spots for sunset photos. With only one building on the bay it it makes for stunning pictures in every direction & the sun sets directly in front of the beach most of the year. It’s also very convenient if you have reservations at Merriman’s Restaurant, you can walk straight to a celebration dinner right after our session.
Kissing on Kapalua Bay
-Ironwood Beach is also another stunning beach a little more north then Kapalua. It offers spectacular views with a long white sand beach & a fifty foot cliff on the south side. So this beach has pros & cons to it and it all depends what the client is wanting & expectecting on their wedding day. These cliffs can be wild with high wind & giant waves breaking on the lava rock below. Because of the geography & where this beach is located, it does not get a direct view of sunset at sunset time. Also because of the geography and location this beach can get more onshore wind & sometimes a bit more passing showers. Those are the cons. The list of amazing things about this beach is long. The views and color of the water when it is sunny is beyond words! Plus its wind swept sand is absolutely stunning. Up on the cliffs, people ore in for a treat as you are looking down on the ocean & can see the breaking waves crash in all their glory directly on to the lava rock. Add some high wind and these waves are getting blown 50-75 feet in the air. This is absolutely incredible to witness, & of course as a photographer I love capturing this in the background while my clients are also amazed by the waves crashing into the lava rock and the spray flying high into the air.
Wild day on the Cliffs of Ironwood Beach with high wind & big waves creating an incredible background for this happy couple.
If you are staying on Maui’s South Side, I recommend one of these three beaches:
Palauea Beach (White Rock): Another fantastic South Maui option, great for capturing those golden hour walking shots on a long white sandy beach with palm trees adding to the magic! This is a very easy beach to work on. There is lots of space even if other groups of people are enjoying it. I like to work in the middle of the beach as it gives me really good angles shooting towards north or south with pretty views in either direction. Then when the sun is finally setting shooting due west makes great photos! One of my favorites!
– Maluaka Beach: Located in Makena, this long, gorgeous white sand beach is a favorite for elopements and small ceremonies. It offers a classic Maui feel, beautiful light, and stunning backgrounds. This beach generally has very few people on it and the sunset is directly in front of you. Amazing!
– Makena Cove (Secret Beach): This spectacular “secret beach” provides epic backgrounds for creating incredible, dramatic imagery. Although this location is not so secret anymore it really is a fantastic location. It has its pros & cons, like many other locations. For one, it is a very small beach & sometimes with other weddings, & visitors on the beach it can be overwhelming. Also because of its small size, the beach can get even tinier at high tide! If you look throughout my website & social media, you will find lots of stunning images from this location, simply because it’s so freakin’ beautiful!
Laughter, Love & the Decisive Moment. This image taken on White Rock Beach in South Maui
Maluaka Beach in South Maui has gorgeous views & very few people usually!
Magical Makena Cove in South Maui. This is long exposure image making the water silky
If you have more questions please reach out, as I am very excited about helping you find the perfect beach that works for you. Of course there are alot more beaches on Maui, so if one of these is not your cup of tea, ask and pick my brain.
I am ready and eager to exceed your expectations with an Amazing Experience, Gorgeous Photography, and Excellent Service! I come to every event well-dressed and prepared with top-of-the-line Nikon gear and Profoto lighting to ensure your wedding dreams are delivered.
I LOVE great communication with my clients, so if you want to talk or TEXT, my cellphone is 808-283-0617.
I can also help with recommendations for a minister, florist, and hair and makeup if needed.
Follow me on Instagram! @tadcraigphotography to see my latest work. Thank You
Totally committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and equitable experience for all Tad Craig Photography | 120 Baldwin Ave, #791996, HI 96779 | 808.283.0617 | Established in 1999 tad@tadcraigphotography.com | ©Tad Craig Photography LLC |2026
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Maui & State of Hawaii LGBTQ+ Wedding Romance Photographer